By any reasonable definition and whether people like it or not, the EU is a confederation. Describing it as a bloc misleads the public into thinking it is something far less important.
however as from the actual Brexit campaign, media, debates and those I know, Brexit vote was from *not* seeing it as a simple bloc
but
to "get back control", of laws money and borders, of trade and immigration etc.
It was *Remainers* who had the bloc like defence, like the 7% of laws argument you mention
But, even then, mainly the alternative "economic disaster to leave" argument –hardly of a simple bloc.
Also Britain did have an early referendum, in 1975, two years after joining.
I don't think people reading "bloc" has anything like the association you infer, I just see it as an alternative word for group there, and no-one ever complains or brings it up, to my knowledge – you are right that "federation" would bring much more associative thought, good and bad!!
Very enjoyable reading,
however as from the actual Brexit campaign, media, debates and those I know, Brexit vote was from *not* seeing it as a simple bloc
but
to "get back control", of laws money and borders, of trade and immigration etc.
It was *Remainers* who had the bloc like defence, like the 7% of laws argument you mention
But, even then, mainly the alternative "economic disaster to leave" argument –hardly of a simple bloc.
Also Britain did have an early referendum, in 1975, two years after joining.
I don't think people reading "bloc" has anything like the association you infer, I just see it as an alternative word for group there, and no-one ever complains or brings it up, to my knowledge – you are right that "federation" would bring much more associative thought, good and bad!!